“The Isle of Man TT course is a living and breathing thing, because every time you drive around it, it changes. At 37.75 miles in length you can never guarantee what the conditions are going to be. On a race track you can finetune your lap to a tenth of a second— a little bit here, a little bit there. But when you’re sitting on the start line at the TT, and you haven’t seen the track for two days and have to immediately go flat out, it’s a little bit daunting.”

In the corner of a bustling café, as he stares out of a rain streaked window, Mark Higgins is trying to put into words the challenge of setting a record-breaking lap time around, what he calls, “the most interesting, exciting and dangerous track anywhere in the world”. And he should know. Three-time British Rally Champion Higgins holds the lap record for four wheels around the infamous mountain course, at an eye-watering average speed of 207.171 km/h. It is a time just shy of the blisteringly quick supersport bikes that are currently competing in the fearsome 2019 Isle of Man TT.

Supersport bikes are currently competing in the fearsome 2019 Isle of Man TT

“It’s almost gladiatorial,” Higgins continues in his local Manx lilt. “If you do get a corner mixed up over here, it’s not going to be good.”

He has a point. Where most modern race circuits have the benefit of gravel traps, tyre walls and catch fencing, the TT offers no such precautions. Get it wrong, and you’ll meet with what the racers call the ‘track furniture’ — a house wall, a lamppost or, if you’re lucky, some more forgiving foliage. As former Isle of Man TT winner Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle recently told the New York Times: "If Roger Federer misses a shot, he loses a point. If I miss an apex, I lose my life."

So why take the risk? “It’s an amazing challenge,” Higgins explains. “There’s no feeling like it, racing on public roads that are totally closed off; it’s just very, very special.”

The race on closed public roads is a special challenge for Higgings

“Motorsport is everywhere you look here. You can’t run away from it because the island is so small. My grandparents rallied as a husband and wife team, my mum and dad did, too. In fact, my first co driver was my mother …”
Mark Higgins

Over Higgins’ shoulder, a carefully curated set of motorcycle artwork, racing laurels and bug-splattered crash helmets is on display. The café — Conrod’s — is owned by close friend and two-wheeled Manx legend Conor Cummins, who opened the coffee shop while recovering from a particularly spectacular crash at the 2010 TT.

Often Cummins can be found serving customers but, this being June, tens of thousands of visitors have descended on the island and with race fever reaching its peak, he’s got business of a rather quicker nature to attend to.

Leaving Conrod’s and the small town of Ramsey behind, Higgins is keen to make the most of an opening in the weather. Accelerating out of Ramsey hairpin and up onto the mountain proper, the sun casts dappled light on the narrow strip of tarmac, making visibility on many parts of the road even more difficult. Not that Higgins seems to notice, as he guides the 718 Boxster GTS (fuel consumption combined 9.0 – 8.2 l/100 km; CO2 emissions 205 - 186 g/km) through a string of drystone walled corners with an economy of effort that defies belief.

One of the world’s greatest driving roads

With no speed limit, the mountain section of the TT course is considered by many to be one of the world’s greatest driving roads, but it’s not Higgins’s favourite stretch. “With no speed limits, we’d always have a crack over the mountain when growing up, but all the great roads [that make up the Manx rally] are actually in the middle of the TT course.”

He takes an unexpected right turn on the approach to Cronk-ny-Mona ­­— a flat-out 260 km/h left hand corner during TT week — and down an impossibly narrow lane. “This is what I’m talking about; this is my favourite stretch of road, anywhere in the world. It’s super narrow, very fast and hugely challenging between the trees.”

Curve follows curve - without speed limit

To most observers, the road would seem unsuited to a road car, let alone for a spot of motor racing, but Higgins is undeterred as he positions the 718 exquisitely over every bump, rut and camber change to minimise the load going through the suspension.

With each corner, he reels off memories as if they were a detailed set of pace notes. “This is all flat-knacker … that’s a sixth-gear corner just about … you just think your way around the corner, using your fingertips … you’re bouncing from one side of the road to the other … you would not believe how fast we travel down here”.

Higgin's impressive career

At the end of the stage, Higgins pulls over to the side of the road and jumps out, gazing at the view. Since leaving the island in 1993, his career has changed beyond recognition: he’s clocked up three British championships, frequent stints in WRC, the odd bit of rallycross and, of course, that lap record breaking four-wheeled TT lap. But these days, you’re more likely to find him on a movie set than on a rally stage ­— his most high-profile work being as a stunt-driver for the Bond franchise.

It’s once in a lifetime type stuff. When else do you get to “slide through the square outside the Vatican at 100mph (160 km/h) plus”? But as Higgins leans against the gently ticking Boxster, he looks at his watch. Soon he’ll be on a flight off the island, heading for another Hollywood filming commitment, yet there’s a reluctance about his body language. He offers a wry smile. “I was born and bred on the Isle of Man. I’m very much a Manxman, this is very much my home. And when I get a chance to drive these roads … well, there’s nothing quite like it.”

^ The published electricity consumption (kWh per 100 km), charging times (hours/minutes) and kilometre (km) range are estimates determined in accordance with the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) – see www.porsche.com/wltp. The WLTP is the test procedure used in the European Union and does not apply in Australia, where the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) remains the appropriate test standard under ADR 81/02. Actual figures will vary as they are dependent on many factors including driving style, road and traffic conditions, weather conditions, a vehicle’s features, equipment, accessories, condition, load and use. Extra features and accessories (attachments, tyre formats, etc.) can change relevant vehicle parameters such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics can also affect the electricity consumption and performance values of a car. The published charging times are estimated using the vehicle’s charging equipment and European charging facilities, with the battery temperature under optimum conditions and the vehicle having an initial charge status of 5%. CO2 emissions can also be generated at the power source when vehicles are being charged, unless 100% renewable energy is used. As Australian models have not been tested in accordance with the NEDC procedure, the published figures do not apply in Australia and must not be relied upon in making a decision as to whether to purchase a vehicle. Please contact an Official Porsche Centre to obtain more information.

* The published fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures are determined by Porsche AG laboratory testing in accordance with ADR 81/02 on test vehicles. Actual figures will depend on many factors, including without limitation: road and traffic conditions, fuel quality, environmental conditions, individual driving style, vehicle load, vehicle condition and use (including any additional equipment and/or accessories) and how the vehicle is driven. For hybrid or electric vehicles, CO2 emissions can also be generated at the power source when vehicles are being recharged, unless 100% renewable energy is used. Generally, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions will differ from the published figures in real world driving conditions. Published figures should only be used for the purpose of comparison between vehicles.

Terms and conditions Porsche Newsroom

1. All information offered on Porsche Newsroom, including but not limited to, texts, images, audio and video documents, are subject to copyright or other legislation for the protection of intellectual property. They are intended exclusively for use by journalists as a source for their own media reporting and are not intended for commercial use, in particular for advertising purposes. It is not permitted to pass on texts, images, audio or video data to unauthorised third parties.

3. All contents of Porsche Newsroom are carefully researched and compiled. Nevertheless, the information may contain errors or inaccuracies. Porsche AG does not accept any liability with respect to the results that may be achived through the use of the information, in particular with respect to accuracy, up-to-dateness and completeness.

4. Insofar as Porsche Newsroom provides information concerning vehicles, the data refers to the German market. Statements concerning standard equipment and statutory, legal and tax regulations and repercussion are valid for the Federal Public of Germany only.

5. With respect to the use of Porsche Newsroom, technical faults such as, delays to news transmission, cannot be ruled out. Porsche AG does not accept any liability for any resulting damage.

6. Insofar as Porsche Newsroom provides links to the internet sites of third parties, Porsche AG does not accept any responsibility for the content of the linked sites. On using the links, the user leaves the Porsche AG information products.

7. In agreeing to these rights of use, the user shall be obliged to refrain from any improper use of Porsche Newsroom.

8. In the event of improper use, Porsche AG reserves the right to block access to Porsche Newsroom.

9. Should one or more provisions of these terms and conditions be or become invalid, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.

Porsche uses cookies to optimise and improve the website, as well as enable the availability of certain functions. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies. For further information, please click&nbsp
here